Occupational Therapy

Interested in Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists help people of all ages achieve their goals, optimise their lifestyles and actively participate in society irrespective of personal and environmental limitations.

Our accredited occupational therapy qualifications are informed by industry and include clinical placements so you can gain direct hands-on experience while you study. You’ll learn in state-of-the-art simulation based training facilities and benefit from our strong industry links.

When you study occupational therapy with us you will learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics, practicing health professionals and researchers in the field. Our curriculum is based on our innovative, well above world-class research1, ensuring you graduate career-ready.

Why UniSA?

Our commitment to research with an industry focus is unprecedented in South Australia. In fact, in the 2015 nationwide Excellence in Research for Australia evaluation, 97 per cent of our assessed research was rated world-class or above. This is great news for students, and evidence of the fact that we are committed to extending your knowledge and building your career.

As an Occupational Therapy student you’ll be taught by industry professionals. Our teachers have a very practical approach to learning, which means you’ll work on real-world projects and gain direct practical experience. We’ve also invested millions of dollars in new buildings and facilities, so you’ll use the latest technologies and learn in ultra-modern teaching spaces.

UniSA is also Australia’s youngest university to receive five-stars in research1 and this excellence shines through our teaching. We are inspired by challenges and opportunities, and partner with local icons and international organisations to deliver impact and change.

Your career

A successful occupational therapist is practical, logical, attentive and observant. You will enjoy working with people and be mentally and physically capable – this field of work is immensely rewarding but can also offer challenges, which you need to be ready to manage.

As an occupational therapist you can gain employment in a range of settings, including:

hospitals

private practice

community mental health services

rehabilitation centres

aged care facilities

community services

home care programs

local council services

government departments

schools

Global networks

We are a globally connected university, our staff and students come from over 90 countries. We have more than 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement. Our students have had placements and internships with organisations like:

Helping Hand Aged Care

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service

Disability SA

Department for Education and Child Development

Domiciliary Care

The Muscular Dystrophy Association SA

Repatriation General Hospital

Industry facts

column-chart-growth

Employment for occupational therapists in Australia is projected to increase by 4,000 (24 per cent) by November 20201.

Living in Adelaide

Ask UniSA

There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.

You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.

If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.

If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.

Postgraduate study by research For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.

There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.

If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.

You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.

The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.

The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.

UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.

Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.

We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.

Study at UniSA

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy students Rachel and Tyla share their experiences of their rural placement project in Clare Valley, supported by UniSA’s Department of Rural Health.

What others are saying

Placements provided me with the opportunity to explore different occupational therapy fields such as paediatrics, mental health, and aged care. I also had the opportunity to work with a peer to manage a collaborative, community-oriented project in a local hospital stroke ward.

Lealei Tan

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

Lealei Tan

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

As the first Aboriginal occupational therapist in South Australia I have a passion to lead and support other Indigenous allied health professionals to follow in my footsteps. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of closing the gap in Aboriginal health inequality but I’m committed to playing my part.

Trevor Ritchie

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Trevor Ritchie

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

I was interested in helping people maintain or regain their independence at an occupational level. I liked that I would have the ability to work with people at different developmental stages, whether it be children or the elderly community.

Brian Lai

Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)

Brian Lai

Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)

By assisting children to play, learn and become independent we are setting them on the path to adulthood.Creating a clinic shaped to the needs of our clients and their families has been an uplifting and exciting adventure. We speak of foundational building blocks in occupational therapy and studying with UniSA was the first building block for my career.